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A 2015 reprint of this 1998 book, with a new foreword by Carl Zimmer (this version is identical to the 2008 paperback reprint).
Sixty-five million years ago, a comet or asteroid larger than Mt. Everest slammed into the Earth, causing an explosion equivalent to the detonation of a hundred million hydrogen bombs. Vaporized impactor and debris from the impact site were blasted out through the atmosphere, falling back to Earth all around the globe. Terrible environmental disasters ensued, including a giant tsunami, continent-scale wildfires, darkness, and cold, followed by sweltering greenhouse heat. When conditions returned to normal, half the genera of plants and animals on Earth had perished.
This horrific story is now widely accepted as the solution to a great scientific murder mystery what caused the extinction of the dinosaurs? In T. rex and the Crater of Doom, originally published in 1997, the story of the scientific detective work that went into solving the mystery is told by geologist Walter Alvarez, one of the four Berkeley scientists who discovered the first evidence for the giant impact. It is a saga of high adventure in remote parts of the world, of patient data collection, of lonely intellectual struggle, of long periods of frustration ended by sudden breakthroughs, of intense public debate, of friendships made or lost, of the exhilaration of discovery, and of delight as a fascinating story unfolded.
Controversial and widely attacked during the 1980s, the impact theory received confirmation from the discovery of the giant impact crater it predicted, buried deep beneath younger strata at the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The Chicxulub Crater was found by Mexican geologists in 1950 but remained almost unknown to scientists elsewhere until 1991, when it was recognized as the largest impact crater on this planet, dating precisely from the time of the great extinction sixty-five million years ago. Geology and paleontology, sciences that long held that all changes in Earth history have been calm and gradual, have now been forced to recognize the critical role played by rare but devastating catastrophes like the impact that killed the dinosaurs.
Foreword ix
Preface xix
Chapter 1: Armageddon 3
Chapter 2: Ex Libro Lapidum Historia Mundi 19
Chapter 3: Gradualist versus Catastrophist 43
Chapter 4: Iridium 59
Chapter 5: The Search for the Impact Site 82
Chapter 6: The Crater of Doom 106
Chapter 7: The World after Chicxulub 130
Notes 147
Index 171
Walter Alvarez is professor of geology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
"[D]eft and readable [...] T. rex and the Crater of Doom gets the facts across in a lighthearted, almost playful manner. But it's also solid science, a clear and efficient exposition that conveys plenty of cogent detail while keeping an eye on the subtle interplay of thought, action, and personality that makes scientific research such arresting human behavior [...] [An] estimable account from the world's leading authority on death from above."
– Timothy Ferris, New York Times Book Review
"A geologist (who happens to be a kind of working philosopher) gives a deft, readable explanation of the extinction of the dinosaurs."
– New York Times Book Review
"The book is very well written and so engrossing that a reader with little or no background in the earth's geologic history will enjoy an easy and vastly entertaining summary of how we came to our present understanding of the past. It is a wonderful adventure in science."
– Dale Russell, The Los Angeles Times Book Review
"An unfolding story told by its leading protagonist [...] Very clearly and entertainingly written, and illustrated with fascinating colour plates, it is accessible even to nonspecialists."
– Arthur C. Clarke, The Times Higher Education Supplement
"A fascinating proof of a once ridiculed theory. In fitting together the puzzle of dino demise, Alvarez excitingly shapes the story for the widest audience."
– Booklist
"Every library with geology holdings will want to have this book [...] Alvarez offers a great detective story [...] "
– Choice
"A first-rate, swiftly paced tale of how science can propel its participants down avenues of surprising discovery to breathtaking conclusions."
– Charles Petit, San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle
"This personal account of the search for a geological Excalibur makes fascinating reading [...] [It] reads like Arthurian legend, full of temptations which lead the hero astray and distract him and his followers from the true path."
– Douglas Palmer, New Scientist
"Alvarez's book recounts this scientific detective story in an authoritative yet consistently engaging manner. Once considered absurd, the idea that extraterrestrial factors were involved in some of the great crises in the history of life has become widely accepted."
– Hans-Dieter Sues, Toronto Globe and Mail
"A nicely told and well-written tale of scientific discovery."
– Library Journal
"Appealing and accessible, an excellent introduction to the subject."
– Kirkus Review
"Reading Alvarez's book is a bit like reading a letter from an old friend you haven't seen for 30 years [...] Serious passages are offset by cheeky commentary and humble asides that keep the book from becoming overly solemn or preachy."
– Rachel Berstein, Berkeley Science Review
"If you love mysteries and enjoy science, this is a wonderful book to read."
– Wildlife Activist
"This is the story of one of the greatest adventures of twentieth-century science, told by the central figure. Walter Alvarez relates the still-evolving story with insight, clarity, and warmth. It is a great read for both scientist and layperson."
– Richard Muller, author of Nemesis: The Death Star
